Calvary Episcopal
Church
Vestry Minutes
August 17, 2004
Participants
Present: Nick
Baker, Jim Barnes, Art Dietz, Elyse Hensley, Jerry Lyndrup, Sally Reisz, Ruth
Robins, Meg Scharre, Jonathan Smith, Jeff Webb; The Rev. Richard Humke.
Absent: Laina
Brown, Sandra Cherry, Andrea Morris, Gail Richardson
Opening Prayer
Art Dietz called the meeting to order at 5:25 p.m. and Fr. Humke
offered an opening prayer.
Minutes
of July 20, 2004 meeting
Sally Reisz moved
the approval of the July 20, 2004 minutes of the vestry; seconded by Ruth
Robins. Motion carried.
Committee
Reports
Finance:
Art presented the financial statements through July 31, 2004. Ruth
Robins moved that the report be accepted; Nick Baker seconded. Motion carried.
The payoff of the Parker Hall loan was
confirmed.
Questions arose regarding 1) whether the
$1880.10 monthly payments to repay the monies taken from the endowment fund for
construction and maintenance had begun on June 1 in accordance with the
30-year, 2% amortization schedule; 2) why the checking balance was so high and
whether some of it should be placed in some higher interest bearing accounts;
and 3), what was the “YTD Actual” entry in 4040, Christmas Receipts? These
questions, along with the question regarding why the ending balances looked so
good at this time of year when receipts are traditionally low, were referred to
the Treasurer for comment at the next vestry meeting.
Stewardship:
Sally Reisz announced that Carolyn Snow has accepted the position
of coordinator of logistics for the Stewardship campaign and would present a
report at the next vestry meeting. Walt Morris chairs the Stewardship Committee
that includes the Every Member Canvass (Walt), Time and Talent (Deborah
Stewart) and Planned Giving (Whitney Hardy and Downey Gray).
Liturgy/Music:
For the Good of the Parish:
Fr. Humke announced that the Burial
Office would be read at Calvary for Pat Clark on Thursday, August 19, at 11:00.
Pat died this past Monday after a long battle with cancer. A memorial service
will be held at Calvary for Simeon Meigs on Friday, September 10, at 11:00.
Simeon, the son of Henry and Sally Meigs, died earlier this summer. His ashes
have been interred at Richmond, Virginia and in Frankfort near his grandfather,
Governor Willis.
Fr. Humke also announced
that the Adult Forum starting on September 18 will focus on the resolutions
resulting from the Diocesan Convention March 5-6, 2004. Ned Reiter, a Calvary
delegate to the 2004 convention, will assist Fr. Humke with the forum.
Worship:
Jim Barnes drew the vestry’s attention to
the written August staff report for Music. It was pointed out that attendance
has been holding up well during the summer, thanks in part to the choir, and
that visitors continue to attend services. The numbers have varied between
95-120 during the summer compared with an average of 140 during the rest of the
year. Visitors are greeted and follow-up notes are sent, but more needs to be
done to encourage them to return and become members.
Christian
Formation:
Elyse Hensley drew the attention of the
vestry to the August staff report on Christian Education. Major focus at this
time is on the opening day of the Church School year, September 12. An Art
exhibit is planned for October or November after Fr. Morris arrives.
Building, House
and Grounds:
Jerry Lyndrup presented his report of projects in writing. He is
keeping things moving along and getting others to help where needed. Jerry
reported that he would like to contract with the person Whitney Hardy uses for
the Burial Grounds and Parker Hall lawn maintenance to also do sweeping,
weeding, picking up trash and other maintenance as needed on the rest of the
property. He will look into it and get back with the vestry. A new receptacle
has been purchased for cigarette ashes and butts and is in place at the North
Entry. Jerry reported that he has spoken with officials at Habitat for
Humanities regarding the bequest of Ginger Grizzle relative to funding of a
Habitat house in her name and Calvary. Jerry reported that the idea was positively
received for Summer 2005. The monies would be used to fund the entire house
that summer with participating churches funding the 2006 house. He also
indicated that another congregation has asked to become a part of the group.
Jim Barnes reported that the dumpster issue is on hold for the time
being. Greater Bethel Temple proposed that a larger dumpster replace the
current one and that Presentation share the cost. Further discussions with GBT
indicated that the GBT Trustees wanted Calvary and Presentation to share the
cost while they provided the space and clean up but no share of the cost. Jim
is researching the cost to Calvary of having its own dumpster (housed in the
area at the back of the building just off the alley) or sharing a dumpster with
Presentation alone, or getting GBT to pitch in also. He will report his
findings and the status at the next vestry meeting.
Questions arose regarding internal major maintenance of the
building, particularly of the Nave. Clyde and John Campbell are to be invited
to the next vestry meeting to report on these items.
Outreach:
Jim Barnes drew the
vestry’s attention to the August written staff report for Outreach.
Communication:
Meg Scharre drew the vestry’s attention
to the August written staff report for Communication. She particularly
indicated that the deadline for articles for the next Connection is September
19.
Parish Life:
Jerry reported for Sandra Cherry that the Foyer Groups are doing
well and that the softball season is over. A picnic for the softball team has
been scheduled for Sunday, August 22, 2004 at the home of Jeff Webb.
By-Laws:
Nick Backer reported that he is working
on the By-Laws and will have some report at the next vestry meeting.
Junior Warden:
Sally Reisz reported that Fr. Morris has
requested that “Cottage Groups” be arranged whereby he and Ellen could meet
with the congregation in informal settings in the homes of parishioners. Sally
said these would also be used to gather information as to what parishioners see
as the future of Calvary. Sally is taking volunteers now and details will be
worked out when Fr. Morris arrives.
Senior Warden:
Art Dietz passed around a thank you note from Margaret and Melvin
Dickinson (also found in Margaret’s staff report). He reported that the total
of the contributions toward the anniversary gift for the Dickinsons was $9,810.
$9,200 was given in a check and the remainder in the form of luggage.
Old Business:
Art Dietz reported that the All Saints parish weekend is September
24 and 25, a Friday and Saturday. Costs vary dependent upon the overnight
accommodations selected. Scholarships will be available for those unable to
afford the costs. Registration forms are available from Callie Hausman, the
Church Office and on the Calvary Website.
Nick Baker reported that he is reviewing insurance policies
currently in effect for Calvary and will give an update and recommendations at
the next vestry meeting.
Nick Baker was asked to draw up a contact related to a $10,000 loan
to the Morris’ for use in purchasing a house so that these monies could be
available when needed. The Morris’ are still searching for a home. Fr. Morris’
will be on the payroll effective October 1 and he will begin that day, a
Friday. His first Sunday as celebrant/preacher is October 10. Fr. Humke’s last
Sunday as celebrant/preacher is October 3. A “blessing of the animals” service
is not scheduled for this year.
A clarification regarding the use of unrestricted bequests was
sought. Previously the vestry decided that such unrestricted bequests could, at
the discretion of the vestry at the time of the bequest, be deposited in the
Endowment Fund. Until the amount owed the Fund as a result of taking funds for
construction and maintenance was retired, such deposits would be used to reduce
that amount. Ruth Robins moved that such use of these monies would not preclude
the approved monthly repayment ($1880.10) and that such payments would continue
to be made thereby reducing the principal even more; seconded by Nick Baker.
Motion carried.
New Business:
Although the Adult Forums beginning
September 19 will focus on resolutions of convention 2004, we have not received
from the diocese any guidelines or recommended format for complying with
Resolution 7 (that all diocesan resolutions responding to the confirmation of
Gene Robinson as bishop be referred to the congregations of the diocese for
further study and discussion with insights from these discussions to be
submitted to a committee of the diocese by November 1).
Jim Barnes reported that at least three
events have led to a review of the computer hardware and software at Calvary:
1) ACS (the church accounting system) has informed us that future upgrades
(payroll tax structure, etc) will require Windows XP Professional for all
workstations and Windows Server 2003 for the server. Susan Watt’s CPU will not
handle the amount of space needed for Server 2003 and will need to be replaced
(it is six years old now); 2) Fr. Morris has requested a laptop which he can
use at home and at the office; and 3) Callie and Fr. Humke continue to have
problems with the network and with access to the internet. Nick Baker moved
that Jim be authorized to work with providers to upgrade the entire system with
expenditures up to $4000; seconded by Meg Scharre. Motion carried.
A question arose regarding whether the
BellSouth system at Calvary had individual voice mailboxes. Jim responded that
the system, of course, was available but that we only had a general voice
mailbox. Ruth moved that Jim be authorized to set up individual voice mailboxes
including expenditures for doing so, if any; seconded by Meg Scharre. Motion
carried.
Ruth announced that photos of the vestry
members will be taken at the next meeting and displayed by class on a bulletin
board. Vestry members are asked to dress appropriately for such photos at the
next meeting.
Sally Reisz announced that a Pictorial
Directory will be scheduled early next year.
The next regularly
scheduled meeting of the vestry is September 21, 5:15 p.m., Calvary Church.
There being no
further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. with closing prayer by
Fr. Humke.
Respectfully
submitted,
James M. Barnes
Secretary
STAFF REPORTS
OUTREACH, MUSIC
AND COMMUNICATIONS
AUGUST 2004
Outreach:
1. Food Donations: This report
covers the period from July 20 through August 16. The value of food donations
during this period is $2,165. Most unique gift this month was from White Castle
via Kentucky Harvest and Walt Morris’s truck! It was 540 frozen White Castle
Cheeseburgers! Our food clients are extremely happy about this gift. I didn’t
know there were that many White Castle fans in Louisville! (I happen to be
one!)
2. Food Distribution: During July, we gave out 117 food bags
that fed 175 people.
3. Clothes Shops for Women and Kids: Thanks to clothing
contributed exclusively by Calvary people, and thanks to the intense interest
given to this project by our weekday volunteers, the number of people clothed
at Calvary continues to flourish. Since
July 20, we have clothed 43 people, including 26 women, 9 men, and 18 children.
Without volunteers Carla McCarty, her friend Gary, Ned Reiter, Larry Brown,
John Cunningham, Joyce Tichenor, Bill Adams, and Lois O’Hara, this ministry
would not be half as successful.
4. Breads: Raspberry jam has appeared three times, for which we and
our food clients are most grateful! The last batch was even Raspberry-Blueberry
Jam! Wonderful!
5. Book Aid: David Webb is now in charge of the books, and has done
a wonderful job, still assisted by Timmons Owens.
6. Crisis Care (Outreach of
sorts!) Jean Dietz has been making calls to the church most Wednesdays and
then following up on those who are sick or in crisis. Lois O’Hara also
continues to write welcoming notes to those who sign the guest book.
7. The Refugees: Sherifis, Lasus, and Lil all doing well.
8. Literacy: We still need more tutors.
Music:
As I read about almost every church around having no choir for the
summer, I become increasingly grateful for the dedication of our Calvary choir
members, who sing the entire summer! Even with vacations, we have managed to
field a good group. Last Sunday, we had 35 in the choir out of a total
attendance of 112! Next Sunday we will do an anthem for two choirs, eight
parts. Not bad for an August Sunday!
We have just learned that Pat Clark died today (Monday the 18th).
We remember Pat as the unsung angel who prepared coffee for the choir and for
coffee hour for years and years. She also was a loyal member of the choir and a
faithful Calvary parishioner. She has been missed in the last year as she
valiantly fought cancer, and she will be missed in the years to come.
Communications:
THE CALVARY CONNECTION deadline is projected for September 19,
please take note!
Webmaster Jim Barnes continues to do a fantastic job of updating
and adding to the Calvary website. It is very reassuring to know that when news
breaks, Jim gets it on the web ASAP. As stated above, we have just received
news that Pat Clark has died. The web page will be the only way to communicate
the time of the funeral, which will not be over a Sunday.
We have broken the 7,000 barrier! To date, 7,019 visitors have
logged in to our website since March 31, 2003. Again, thank you, Jim!
Margaret
Dickinson
AND AS A SPECIAL NOTE, Melvin and I wish to thank the entire vestry
AND the entire parish for the wonderful anniversary gift on July 25. It was
truly an expression of love and gratitude and it meant very much to both Melvin
and me. Germany is projected for May 17, 2005! We already have the organ sub
and the dog sitter!
Education Report
to the Vestry
August 2004
Most exciting is the August Creative Art project led by David Webb
and Martha Edling. In preparation for
the Calvary Art Exhibit later this fall, the children are making paper, which
can be used for decoration, prayers, etc.
Many of the adults who have seen the project in the Parish Hall before
the service, seem to be enjoying the event very much. So I am delighted that not only are the children enjoying
themselves, but also many adults are
interested.
Classes will start up next month on September 12. Later this month there will be the Godly
Play workshop and also the training session for teachers for the Intermediate
and Youth classes.
All Saints’ camp has been scheduled and we are awaiting
reservations.
I look forward to the upcoming year!
Blessings,
Callie Hausman
